Sierra trading post at SierraTradingPost.com had some standard arbor Abels with old style porting at good prices. Might just try calling Abel if Sierra is out and you want one. I was still working in a shop when they started dumping old style reels, and you never knew what they could "find" in some dusty corner until you called.

You don't need a large arbor (unless you are worried about paying for lots of backing (it ain't cheap!), or there is a weight issue), just a big HONKIN' reel. My 4.5 N is not only a great standard arbor reel (though a little too "cool" on the river, folks might think you're a yuppie:-) for spey, but it has the backing capacity and guts to handle Mexican Marlin, and a Baja trip for a West Coaster is about a quarter the cost of a major B.C. Steelie trip. About $280 for 4 days, 3 nights, and two days in a skiff with a captain plus airfare (double occupancy). Yo quiero pescar Dorado, Pez vella, Y Gallo!!!!! Sorry... I just confirmed a trip in October and I'm having trouble staying focused.

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"I'm not fat, I just have a sweet hockey body!" Eric Cartman

ebay and The Virtual FlyShop auction sites have great selection and prices. The Hardy JLH Salmon I had at the Spey Clinic was a deal at $120.00 and when the reel arrived the seller (who was an upstate NY guide) included a bunch of his special local patterns. I have also bought a NIB discontinued Abel with warranty card for much less than the retail price.

Hi Fred you might also consider looking around for a Scientific anglers "mastery" series reel they make on that is a 12/13. This reel was discintinues last summer so you should be able to find a very good deal on one try the Madison River Fishing Company.. MRFC.com

John Norris in the UK has very attractive prices on Hardy reels. I believe you can pick up a new JLH Salmon for around $130US. The prices listed include a VAT that only applies to EU contries so if you reduce the price by 15-17% (can't recall just how much exactly) yiou'll find they're extremely attactive in price. Take a look at www.johnnorris.co.uk

Oh no! Pescaphile posted a very good source of used British fly reels some people worry about child proofing there computers so there children won't view "bad things". I'm worried my wife will see the web site for www.johnnorris.co.uk,talk about a compulsive buyer, this could be big trouble.(I should count up the ones she has bought maybe I should take a picture of them they say a picture is worth a thousand words, I'm sure theres not that many)
Some of those used reels might be interesting how many drawers full does a couple really need? Hope you are getting some much needed rain up your way. Low and clear water is the order of the day around here. A "few" too many others around for all day fishing but solitude may be rewarded early and late!
Persistent reports of surface action have me thinking about finishing up the last couple of weeks with a Muddler/ Big Clump of Deer Hair, having said that I guess I'd better spool off the Sink Tip and replace it with the Dry Line so I won't have the umbilical cord to hang on to.

I could kick myself in the you know what for not picking up
a Hardy Perfect 20 years ago when they were still available.

What an idiot I was, and now they are hard to find and expensive beyond what I want to pay.

What Hardy reel would you guys recommend for a 7/8 weight spey rod which will be spooled with a 9/10 weight line most likely ?

I have a 9/10 weight WF sink tip on it temporarily until I decide on the long term line choice.

Remember I am in the great lakes and do not need to make the extremely long casts that PNW fellows do. Need a reel that can take that size line plus 200 yards of backing though. Do some lake streamer fishing and if you hook a skammania or king salmon 100 yards of backing is not enough, they have spooled many a person. Ah what a great and also simultaneousl sick feeling that is when it happens.

Actually they usually straighten my hook first before they spool me. Have to find stronger hooks, I am now tying with saltwater hooks, and hope that will be the solution.

PM I really like the Perfects the one for the 7/8 spey would in my view be the 3 1/2". Perfects in even fractional (1/4 1/2 3/4) amounts are wide spool configuration (so are several other models). There is a new version of an old favorite called a Bougle they make it in 3 1/2 and it would be sweet with a 7/8. It is a raised pillar Perfect and is very well built and as smooth as butter. Another good choice is the Marquis Salmon I. I have several of these and use them with both 8DT and 9DT with ample backing for large western rivers if you find a choice of Salmon I or Salmon II for the same money take the II it is a wide spool and will give you more options .

pm,
A marquis No.1 Salmon matches that size rod quite well though you wont be able to spool that much backing on it. Solution? Another reel! Or if you're of the practical nature, a bigger one.

A friend uses the JLH and it's a fine reel. The price from the site list above is hard to beat. It will hold plenty of backing. I use a No. 2 Marquis Salmon and have always liked it, but I you'd have to look awfully hard (and long) to find one at the price of a new JLH from John Norris. The JLH is probably a nicer reel to boot.

I just recently found a 4" Bougle and have it all spooled up and ready to go. Am having second thoughts though as I've placed a hideous sinktip line on it which seems close to blasphemy for such a fine reel. You can almost have that Perfect that you lamnet missing out on 20 years ago if you pick up one of these Bougles. Just cosmetic differences primarly. Of course that anodized finish isn't the same as real lead but you wont have to worry about toxicity should you give it a little smooch after landing a special fish.

And the older reels are out there too. You just have to look and be patient.

Thanks for the input, yes I was looking at the Bougle and it looks much like the Old Perfect. Also will look at the JLH.

Before I leave this earth I have vowed to either get an Old Perfect or the most similar present Hardy model and listen to the sing of the drag as the silver streak burns across the water.

Best

Hal

P.S. My super purist days of floating line only are over, does not bother me to put on the sink tips any more, heck in my younger trout fishing days we would fish full sinking lines, which was before they had the graduated sink tips. Better be quiet am divulging my age. Of course I remember when I had to the grease fly line several times during the day also, oops there I go again...........

I agree with others that looking around for used or discontinued is a great way to go. I'm a verified bottom feeder - otherwise the gear is just too pricey, and it gets dinged up anyway. I picked up used a CFO VI + X-Spool, both loaded w/ DT lines, for a mere $225, and in fine shape. That CFO VI holds 60' of TT8/9 backed with 30' of 10 wt. belly plus plenty of backing. The main problem with the reel is the terrible racheting noise that it makes when a fish is running

about light rods, I fish the JLH salmon on my Sage 7136-4. The reel balances the rod nicely, and they can be had for cheap. The JLH has capacity for big long lines but lacks the weight to balance longer rods. One of my JLH spools has 45' of LC13 wound around the core to make it heavier.

Going for used gear works great, but its best if you aren't in a rush.